Signaling system



Patented Sept. 11, i923.

pires sra e CLARENCE'E. BEACH, or sineniiiiirou, NEW YORK.y

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Application' ined January 7, 192e. sensi ne. 3493419.

To @ZZ liii/mn 'it may concern.:

Be it known that I, @mannen E. BEACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Binghamton, county of Broome, and State of `rew York, have invented lcertain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates tov signaling systems comprising a central station having suitable current supply and manifesting mechanism, a plurality of distant signal initi ating stations having circuit-breaking and circuit-grounding iually closed line circuit in which such stations are connected. l

rlhis invention is especially adapted for use in connection with the signaling system disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 335,430, iiled 'November 3rd, 1919. Y

lfn my aforesaid application, mea-ns are disclosed responsive to current How in each of the line conductors and ina ground connection -at the central station for 'manifesting signals of the initiating stations; but no means is disclosed by said application for preventing the mani'iesting means for the central station ground connection from responding to the s'tr'okesiof lboth of any two initiating stations which may act concurrently; such concurrent response would not afford an intelligible manifestation of the code signal ofl either of such stations.

Such double-.strokes arc experienced when the contacts of one of Such stations have acted to ground the circuit, and thereupon the contacts of another of such stationsact to close the circuit and, before the contacts of such second station act to add the `ground connection to such closure, the con? tarts of such first named station break the' circuit; thus formulating an unintended closure and break which may be of sui'iicient duration to cause the central oflice manifesting mechanism to respond thereto. with the result that there will be two responses of said mechanism in comparatii'ely quick succession, when but one response was intended.

The principal object of this invention is yto provide a signaling system comprising a ci-rcuit including a plurality Vof code signal-ini-t mechanism, and a 'nor-A tiatin'gl stations, and having mechanism arranged to manifest the eodepsig-na'ls of each' of any two concurrently acting stations or of any manual freadjustment and Withoutv manifesting any false code signal.

@ther objects of this invention' will be in part obvious and'in part specifically pointed out in 'the following specification.

In constructing `this invention a plurality of signal initiating stations are connected by a ycircuit including manifesting mechanism and a suitable current source, said manifesting one short-circuited station, withouty mechanism being a`r`y ranged for response to circuit Abreaks or tion ,"Hthe manifesting mechanism 'should be independentlyv responsive to breaks or closures (as the case may be) in either side of the circuit, as well as to. the grounding of said circuit at any initiating station.

' In the use of certain `types of initiating stations and circuits,` the signaling impulses 'formulated undernormal circuit conditions, incident to the grounding of the circuit during the action of rany initiating station, are likely to cause 'such response ofrv manifesting mechanism intended for response to the grounding of the circuit as to indicate unintended code signals. Inthe use of circuit arrangements and mechanism arranged to permit independent manifestation of the respective kcode signals of two concurrently acting initiating stations, as hereinbefore pointed out, it .is undesirable that said mech'anisin `shall act 'to inanifest an intermingling of the code vsignaling impulses of any two such stations. When =op erating conditions render it desirable that such -unintended and undesirable results shall be avoided,-means fare provided whereby the action .of such manifesting mechanism, in response to any break or closure of said circuit, renders said mechanism unresponsive to the grounding of said circuit at any initiating station.

In order to prevent the response of said mechanism to ground connections which may commence or terminate between one break or closure of a code signal and another-, -said `means should render said mechanism unresponsive to such ground connections for the time, following each response of said mechanism to a break or closure of said signaling circuit, which time is longer than the longest interval between the strokes of any code signal.

When said manifesting mechanism includes paper feeding means adapted to be conditioned upon each stroke of a signal to run for a time longer than the longest interval between strokes of any signahsaid feeding means may be employed in accordance with this invention for rendering said mechanism unresponsive to ground connections during the running of such feeding means in response to breaks or closures of the signaling circuit.

For the purpose of preven'ting'the formulation of current impulses calculated to cause the manifestation of double-strokes during code signals, means are provided at each initiating station for grounding the signaling circuit at such station throughout every closure incidental to the transmission of the code signal of such station to which response of the central office manifesting mechanism should be made. Thus: if said manifesting mechanism is arranged to act in response to circuit closures but not to breaks of the circuit incident to code signals,- such ground connections should become effective at the commencement of the first closure following the first break incident to the transmission of any code signal, and should be effective throughout all succeeding closures of such signal except that. after being effective for a suitable period during the final closure of the circuit following the transmission of any code signal, said ground connection should be rendered ineffective for reasons well understood by those skilledr in this art; and if said manifesting mechanism is arranged to act in response to circuit breaks but not to closures of the circuit incident to code signals, such ground connection should become effective a suitable period below the first break incident to the transmission of any code signal and should be effective throughout all succeeding closures of suoli signal, except that said connection should not be effective during any part of the final closure of the circuitfollowing the transmission of any code signal.

For the purpose of facilitating the understanding of this invention, and for the further purpose of setting forth in greater detail certain features thereof,-an embodiment thereof is illust-rated in the accompanying drawings, where like reference characters denote similar parts throughout, and in which- Figure 1 is an illustrative diagrammatic representation of a signaling system embodying this invention, and

Figure 2 is an enlarged view showing the arrangement of certain features of the registers lt and Gr of Fig. l..

Referring to Fig. l: A represents an opendelta connected three-phase current source, two of the phases of said source being connected to respective ends of a signaling circuit and the other phase being` connected to the ground. Said source therefore constitutes means for applying an electromotive force to saidv circuit and for applying a second electromotive force to said ground connection, which electromotive forces differ in phase from one another.

The alternating current relays B, C and D are located in the central station and are connected respectively in one side of said circuit, in said ground connection, and in the other side of said circuit' and the registers 1C, F and G are likewise located in the cent-ral station and are arranged for response to said respective relays, said relays and registers therefore serving as manifesting mechanism distinctively responsive to signaling impulses in either side of said circuit or in said ground connection.

The signal initiating stations L, M and N are seriallyv connected in said signaling circuit7 and each of said stations has code signal formulating means comprising a codewheel 20, and has circuit-breaking and circuit-grounding mechanism comprising the code contacts 2l, 22 and 23 operable thereby, the contacts 2l and 22 being connected through the conductors 'z2-i and 25 to the circuit terminals and 27 respectively, and the contact 23 forming part of a normally open ground connection, the remaining parts of which connection being the conductor 28, normally open contacts 29 and 30, the conductor 3l, ground terminal 32, and ground connection A notched disc fist is arranged to operate the contact 30 so that, when the code wheel. has been set in motion, while or immediately after the first notch of the code-wheel 20 is presented to the trailing end of the contact Q3, said disc will move contact 30 into engagement with contact Q9. and will hold said contacts so engaged until after the code-wheel 2O has moved the contacts 2l, 22 and 23 into engagement for the last time before coming to rest after any action thereof.

Suitable means is provided at each initiating station for causing desired action of the The details of such means form no part` of this invention; and as various forms of clockwork suitable for use at initiating stations, such as those shown, are well-known and their relative suitability will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art, representaton of further details of such clockwork is therefore omitted in the interests of simplicity and clearness.

The code-wheels 20 are shown as being of the so called closed type (i. e. arranged to close contacts throughout all pauses and to open them for substantially uniform and comparatively brief intervals for each stroke) although, as will he hereini after more fully pointed out, so called open type Wheels (i. e. arranged to open contacts throughout all pauses and to close them for substantially uniform and comparatively brief intervals for each stroke) may be employed without departing from the spirit of this invention.

The relays B, C and D are shown as each controlling a normally open local circuit including a`suitable current source, the winding ofthe controlling magnet of a register. and parallel paths connecting` visible and audible *alarming mechanism.

For convenient representation, a separate current source is shown for each of saidA local circuits, but it is obvious that such circuits might be supplied from a` common source. as, for example, the source A.

As shown, the normally open local circuit controlled by the relay B includes the battery 36, the winding of the controlling magnet of register E, and parallel paths one. of which includes the lamp 37 and the other of which includes the winding of alarm relay 38; the alarm bell 39 being suitably con trolled by the relay 38, subject'to the disconnecting switch 40. y

The controlling mechanism of register is arranged to act in responseto breaks of. the local circuit in which the winding of the controlling magnet of said register is connected. and said register is equipped with usual paper feeding train mechanism adaptod to be conditioned by each stroke of a sig-'i nal to run for a time longer than the longest interval between strokes of any signal.

The normally closed contacts el1 and 42 are controlled by said tra-in so-as to be open duringthe running thereof.

Fig. 2 shows a typicaly arrangemet of register mechanism for the actuation of paper marking and feeding devices` and illustrates the maner of utilizing such mechanism for controlling the contacts 4:1 and 49,. rThe main wheel 71 is mounted upon a shaft 72.

Said shaft isvdriven by the main spring 73 and is connected to the wheel 71 through the ratchet 74 and the dog 75,whichdog is held in engagement 'with said ratchet by the spring 7 6. The pinion 77 is mounted upon the shaft 78, is driven by the wheel '71 and drives the gear 79. The pinion 80 is fixed upon the shaft 81 and drives the cam 89 and the detent arm 83. Suitable paper marking mechanism (not shown) may be connected tothe shaft 81 so that, incident to each revolution of said shaft, the paper tape will be suitably marked.

The detent lever 84 is pivoted at 85 and comprises an arm 86,3the end of which arm is bent at right angles thereto, and is so positioned as to be adapted for movement into and out of the path of the free end of the arm 83 incident to the swing of said lever 84 around its pivot 85. The lever 84 also comprises the arm 87 near the free end of which the pin 88 is mounted in such position that it may be alternately engaged bythe ledges 89 and 90 carried by the escapement arm 91. The arm 91 is pivoted at 92 and moves with the arm 93. The armature 911 is secured to the arm 93 in such relation 'to the magnet 95 that, when said armature is in attracted position, the ledge 90 will be disposed in the path of the pin 88;v and such that, when said armature is in retracted position, the ledge 89 will be disposed in the path of said pin.

A. linger 96 is secured to the arm 87 and extends inthe path of the pin 97 carried by the arm 83; so that, during the rotation of said arm, .said pin will engage said linger and thereby move said lever from. a position. in which the end of the arm 86 is withdrawn from the path of the arm 83 (and the `pin i 88 is disposed below the ledges 89 and 90) to a position in which the end of the arm will be disposed in the path of the arm 83 and the pin 88 will be situated above the ledges 89 and 90.

v The downward movement of the arms 8.7 and 93 is actuated by gravity, which majY be supplemented, if desired. by the use ot suitable springs (not shown).

The sector is carried' by an arm 101; which arni .is pivoted at 102 and carries a roller 103 disposed in the path of the cam 82. A spring 104tis provided for urging the arm 101 toward the cam One end of said springv is secured to the frame at 105 and the other end of said'spring is secured to the v arm 101 at 106.

The pinion 107 is journaledl upon. the

said ratchet 109. The cooperation between the rat het 109 and the dog 111 is such that movement imparted to the. pinion 10T by the pull ot the spring 104 upon the arm 101 will cause rotation ot the wheel 110 and shaft 108, and movement imparted to said pinion through the engagement ot the roller 103 by the cani 82 need not rotate the wheel 2.10 therewith.

Suitable paper feeding mechanism (not shown in Fig'. is arranged for actuation by the shaft 108.

The pinion. 1123 and escapement wheel 114 are mounted upon the shai't 115, said pinion being positioned tor engagement thereo'iiv by the wheel 110, and said escapei'nent wheel. being positioned tor engagement thereof by the. pallet 120 which is mounted' upon the shaft 110 and moves with the pendulum 11T, .tor the purpose ot govereineA the speed or" rotation of thc shatt 108 and parts movingT therewith An extension .118 is secured to the arm 101 and carries an insulati pin 119 in the tree end thereof, which pin is arranged to engage the contact 42 and holds same against the contact 4l while the arm 101 is in its normal elevated position.

The various parts shown in Fig. 2 are ,normally positioned as bonn; .so that, upon the effective encrgiy .Jion oi the marinet 95. the armature 9'4- will be moved from retracted. to attracted position. there-by withdrawing the ledge troni the patin of the pin 88, whereupon the arm 8T will move downwardly until said pin 88 is brought into engagement with the ledge 00. Such. downward movement ot the arm 8T will be insufficient to swing); the end of the arm 8G out of the path ot the arm 83.

When the magnet is thereafter de energi'/:ed,-the armature 04 will move to retractcd position shown) thereby withdrawing the ledgre 90 from the path ot the pin 88.7and thus permitting the arm 87 to swing downwardly so as to bring` the end ot the arm 80 out oi2 the path oif the arm 83.

llfhen the arm 8?, is disengaged by the end ot the arm 86, as just described, the shaft 81 will quickly rotate. thus causing: the pin 0T to engrace with the finger 0G and thereby restoring the lever 84 to its normal position. and causing` the cam 82 to move the arm 101 downwardly and thereby 'store energy in the springr 104. Such rotation ot the shaft 81 will also serve to actuate such paper marking; mechanism may be associated therewith.

lVhen the arm 101 is moved downwardly. as just described. the extension 118 will carry the pin 119 `away from the contact 42; Yand said contact will thereupon move away trom the contact 41. During such downward movement of the arm 101,-the sector 100 will rotate the pinion 10T and the ratchet 109 in counter-clockwise direction, thus movingthe teeth of the. ratchet past the dog- 111 without rotating the wheel 110.

At the conclusion of the rotation of the shaft 81, the rise of the cam 82 will be with drawn from the path of the roller 103. and the spring 104 will thereupon act through the arm 101 and the sector 100 rotatel the pinion 107, wheel 110 and sha-ft 108; subject to the retardingV eii'ect of the engagement of the p-allet 120 with the eiscapement wheel 114. Such retarding; eil'ect is so proportioned that, when the arm 101 has been moved downwardly, as just described, said arm will not thereafter be sutliciently elevated to act through the extension 118 and pin 119 to move the contact 42 into engag'ementwith the contact 41 for a time longer than the longest interval. between the impulses of any signal.

Should the magnet be again energized and then decnergized, during the running)r of the paper feeding train as just described. the shaft 81 will again revolve `and will thus act through the cam 82 to 'annui the upward movement of the arm 101 which took place Ysince the precedingr revolution oi.2 said sh From the foregoing it will be evident that said paper feeding train is adapted to loo conditioned, upon each circuit impulse of any signal responded to by the recording mechanism shatft 81, to run Jfor 'a time longer than the longest interval between impulses oft any signal; and that means, comprising the, extension 118, pin 119. andi contacts 41 and 42, are arranged to render the register F unresponsive to the `ground connection during the running ot the paper feeding trains ot either the register E or the register G.

The normally open local circuit controlled by the relay D correspondingly includes the controlling magnet of register Gr and other instrumentalities responsive thereto, in a manner corresponding to that just described in reference to the local circuit controlled by the relay B.

The local circuit controlled by the relay C includes the controlling magnet ot the manifesting device F (which device may be a register, as shown, or may be bell` lamp or other device for visually or audibly manitesting signals, as, tor the purposes ot this invention, this device need not be provided. with a paper feedingtrain) together with other instrumentalities responsive tol said circuit, in a manner corresponding to that just described in reference to the local circuit controlled by the relay B; but said register F does not require circuit controlling contacts such as the contacts 41 and 42 supplied for registers E and Gr. The local circuit controlled by said relay C also serially includes the normally closed contacts 41 and 42 of registers E and G. It is therefore evident that means are provided, which are opera-ble incidentally to the manifestation of each vsignaling impulse in said circuit, for rendering said register F unresponsive to signaling impulses in said ground connection incidental to the actuation of the grounding mechanism of any initiating station.

vIf desired, the notched disc 84 of the various initiating sta-tions may be arranged to close the contacts 29 and 30 whenever the code-wheel 20 is set in motion and before the first notch of the said code-wheel ispresented to the trailing end of contact 23, in which event said disc should be arranged to hold said conta-cts so engaged only until the contacts 21, 22 and 23 have moved out of engagement for the last time before coming to rest after any actuation of the code-wheel, so that said contacts 29 and 3() will always be separated when the circuit closes forthe last time at the con-. clusion of any signal. If the arrangement of the disc 34 is revised vas just indicated, the code-wheel 20 may be of either of the open type or the closed type. although open type code-wheels may cause incorrect signal manifestations if employed with notched discs arranged as hereinbefore first described.

If the notched discs are arranged in accordance with the revision just referred to, regardless of whether the code-wheels are of the open or closed type, the mechanism of the registers E, F and G `should be arranged to act reversely to the manner hereinbefore described; i. e. registers E and G should be arranged to act in response to closures and register F to breaks, of the respective local circuits in which the windings of the controlling magnets of such registers are connected. In any event each initiating station should be arranged to ground every closure the effectiveness of which is essential to correct manifestation of the code signal thereof vby the type of manifesting mechanism employed in connection therewith, and such grounding should be effective throughout each of such closures` except the closures which precede and follow such signals. In the instance of the normal closure preceding a signal, it' response should be made to the breaking thereof, such closure should be grounded fora su it-able period immediately preceding the termination thereof. In the instance of the final closure following a signal, if response should be made to the commencement thereof, such closure should be grounded from the commencement thereof for a suitable period thereafter.

Under certain conditions which do not render it expedient to provide for the independent manifestationof the code signals of two concurrently acting initiating stations, the relay C and either the register E or the register G may be omitted,lthe local circuit of the register F being then arranged to be controlled by the relay whosepreviously associated register has been thus omitted, the responsiveness of the register F being controlled by the remaining re' ister E or G (as the case may be). If the foregoing' rearrangements are made,- the ground connection may be transferred to the terminal of the'current source nearest to the line relay which controls the register F.

The operation of the system shown in the accompanying drawing is asfollows: Underl normal conditions a current path is provided fromy the` left-hand terminal of the source A through conductor 43, winding of relay B and conductor 44 tot-ermin'al 26 of initiatingv station L thence through conductor 24, contacts 22, 23 and 2l, and conductor 25 to terminal 27 of said station, lthence through conductor 45 to terminal 26 of station M, .thence correspondingly through station M to terminal 27 thereof,- thence through lconductor 46 to terminal 26 of station N, thence correspondingly:through said station to; terminal 27 thereof, lthence through conductor 47, winding ofrelay gD and conductor 48to the right-hand terminal of source A; the secondary windings 49 and 5() of said source being serially connected between said conductors 48 and' 43, and said windings being excited by the primary windings 5l and 52 respectively; said windingf5i being connected between the .phase wires 54 and 55 and said winding 52 being connected between the phase wires 53 and 54 of a suitable three-phase alternating current supply circuit. Inasmuch as the contacts 29 and 30 of the ground'.connection of all of the initiating` stations normally stand open; there will be no current flow from the junction between,secondarywindings 49` and 50 through conductor 56, windiings- 0f relay C and `conductor 57 to the ground; the current flow through the signal circuit will cause -the armatures of relays B and D to occupy -their attracted positions, and a lack of current flow in the ground connection will permit the arnulture of relay C to occupy its retracted. position, thecontrolling magnets of registers E, F and G will be cle-energized, the paper feeding trainsv of said registers. willbe at rest and the contacts 41 and 42 associated with registers E Aand G will be closed. y

inasmuch as the respective local circuits are open,-the alarm lamps 37 vwill not/be lighted, the alarm relays 3S will be deenergized, and the armatures of said relays will be in retracted position thus breaking the currentpath through` their associated alarm ,bells 39, even when the disconnecting switches 40 are all closed. i

los

end of the contact 23,

li nonv one of the initiating; stations is setv in action, as by the operation ot the start-- ing handle 35 thei'eat, the code-Wheel 2O off such station will be rotated one or moreA times (depending upon the arrangement off the mechanism at the station 'tor response.- to the operation imparted to the starting' handle 35) and, *when the first notch ot the; said code-Wheel is presented to the trailinejg said contact will drop away from the contacts Qi and 2:2 andv thereby break the signaling` c-ircuit. liar-- ing the continued rotation of the code-Wheel 20, and before said code-Wheel brings the; contact 23 into engagement with the con-- tacts 2l and 22, the disc Se will move thecontact 30 into engagement with the contactz 29, thereby closing the ground connectionof said station.

l/Vhen the circuit is broken at the contacts; 2l, 22 and ot any station, as just cle-- scribed, the relaj-,f's B and D are cle-enengized and their armatures moved to retract-- ed position thereby closing the local circuits. of registers E and G so as to cause the elec-- tro-magnets oic said registers to be etiectively energized, the associated alarm lamps; 37 to be lighted, the associated alarm relays 38 to be energized, and the associated alarm bells 39 to sound. Such energization of the electro-magnets ot these registers will not cause the actuation of the marking orl paper feeding mechanism thereof, as theseregisters are arranged to act to mark hepaper and start the paper feeding mecha-- nisni only in response to changes in the condition ot their magnets troni alniornial to normal, as hereinbetore more Ylully explained in connection. with Fig. 2.

The closure ot the ground connection at; the contacts 29 and 3() ol'l the actingl station-` Will cause the circuit to be Agrounded when the contacts 2l, 22 and Q?) are closed after the first break of the signal; said contacts being' so arranged that the connection bctWecn the tivo circuit contacts is established through the `ground Contact, thus making it impossible to' close the circuit (while the contacts and 30 are closed) without grounding' it, although one side or the other ot the circuit may be closed through the ground slightly before ooth sides are closed, in the event that, when the grounifl contact Q3 is raised by the codenrheel, it tmiclies .one ol the contacts 2l or 22 slightly prior yto touching the other.

Upon closure and g oundincr ot the signalling' circuit, as just described` the re ays B, C Iand D Will be effectively energized, their armatures will niove to attracted position, the local circuits controlled by relays B andy D Will be broken and the local circuit controlled by relay C Will be closed. Upon the breaking of the local circuits of espectire controlling ivaezaoi relays B and D, as just described, registers ltand will each act to manifest one stroke ot a signal, to set their respective paper feeding' trains in motion, and to thereby break the contacts 41 and t2 associated with Asaid trains; and the closing of the local circuit controlled by relay C Will cause the register F to act in a similar manner.

During the remainder of the rotation ot the code-Wheel 2O of the acting station, the contacts 2l, 22 and 23 will be alternately opened and closed in accordance with the (intended code signal ot such station, thereby causing alternate desenergization and reenergization of the magnets of relays B, C and ll), so as to cause suitable response by the registers E and G. Inasmuch as the local circuit controlled by the relay C Will be broken at the contacts L1 and Quoi reffister .T and Gr throughout the action ot sich registers in response to such a signal, it is evident that the register F will not respond :.to any impulses, other than the tirst inipulse. of any signal manifested by regis ters E and Gr. l l Should some one or more of the initiating stations be short-circuited, and, While such short-circuit is etiective, should a station so short-circuited be set in action. the register F will respond t-o the code siffnal ot such station, but the registers E anl Gr will not respond thereto. It, for example, the station M is. short-circuited as suggested vby the dotted line 60,-the circuit Will not lie broken when the iirst notch of the coden wheel is presented to the trailing' end ot the contact 23; but, betere the contacts L2 and E123 are closed by the lett-hand Wall ot said lii'st. notch, the disc 34. will inovc the contact -)O into engagement with the conA tact 29, so that when said contacts 2i, Q2 and 23 are again closed, the circuit will be `grounded and thereby cause the enei'gizalion of relay C and response o'l' register F. inasmuch as the register F responds to closures but not breaks in the vground connection; `it is evident that said register will respond to that closure o'll said ground connection which immediately precedes coming' to rest of such a station; but will not cause such response when the disc 34 permits the Contact 3() to more away 'from the contact; 29, just before the mechanism otl such station comes to rest, although the ground coniiect-ion ot said ystation ivill be interrupted, and the armature of relay C will more to retracted position and thereby break the local circuit includingthe coiitrollingv magnet ot register F.

inasmuch energization ot the magnets ot relays B and D irill be uniinpaired by the breaking and closing' ot tlie contacts 2l, 22 and 2B of station M While said station is subjected to the short-circuit 60, it is evident that the effectivenessot the lll) lil)

neither the register E or the register G Will respond to such breaks or closures, and the local circuit controlled by the relay C Awill therefore continue to be responsive to said relay throughout the code signal formulated by said contacts. After the last closure of the last round of the signal, the disc 34 Will permit the contact o() to more away from the contact Q9 so that, when the mechanism of such transmitting station comes to rest, the ground connection of such station will be ineffective. Upon the interruption of such ground connection, the relay C Will be cle-energized, and its armature will move to retracted position, thereby breaking the local circuit controlled by said relay so as to cle-energize the controlling magnet of register F. Inasmuch as said register acts only in resp-onse to the energization of its controlling magnet, said register vill not act in response to the interruption of the ground connection just described.

It an unintended ground develops upon the circuit, as suggested by they dotted lines 61,-the relay C Will be energized thereby closing the local circuit controlled by said relay so as to cause the register F to act, to light the alarm lamp 37 and to cause the alarm hell 39 associated with said local circuit to sound continuously. If desired, said bell 39 may be silenced by means of the switch 40, pending the repair of the circuit to eliminate such ground connection. iiihile said ground` connection remains effective, it is evident that register Will he in condition to act in response to circuit breaks at initiating station L and that register (i will be in condition to act in response to circuit breaks at initiating stations M or N, s-o that signals of these stations inay'be properly manifested by one or the other of said circuit registers while such, an unintended ground remains effective.

lf the signal circuit is broken as, for eX- ainple, at some point alongthe conductor 126. relays B and D uill be (le-energized, registers E and (i Willact, and the lamps 3T associated with saidA registers-Will be lighted and the associated bells 39 will sound. lf desired. said bells may be silenced, by means ol' the switches 40 associated therewith, pending the repair of the breakin the circuit. lVhile the circuit is thus broken. it is evident that should any initiating station be actuatedthe grounded closures of one side or the other of the circuit incident to the code signal thereof will be manifested by a corresponding one -or the other of the circuit registers E and G; that the irst impulse of such signal will he responded to by the register F, and that said register Will not respond to the subsequent impulsesk ofsueh signal becausel the local circuit therefor will be broken at the contactsv Ll-l and {1i-9. of the acting circuit register E or G.

Should any two of said initiating stations be set in motion so as to act simultaneously in providing the first circuit break incident to the formulation of their respective code signaling impulses, it is evident that relays B andvD will be cle-energized when the circuit is thus broken; and, should the contacts ot' such stations subsequently act in unison to close and break the circuit path, both registers E and G' Will act in response to such closures. Duringfsuch first break, the discs 34 of both of such stations will act to close the contacts 29 and 30 thereat, so that, when the contacts 2l, 22 and 23 of Aeither (or both) of said stations next close, the relay C Will be effectively energized and thereby cause the register F to act. While the register F is thus acting, one or both of the registers E and G will also act t'o start their paper feeding train and thus close contacts 4l and 42 thereat, so that the register will not act in response to any of the subsequent circuit closures incident to the concurrent action of suoli initiating stations.

Assuming that the stations L and N have been set in motion so as to simultaneously act in formulating the .tirst circuit break incident to their respective code signals-it is evident that said stations will act at or about the same time to close the circuit after said .tirst break, and that the registers E, F and G will therefore respond to said closure at or about the same time; but when the second notch of the code-wheel 2O of station N permits the contact 23 to move away from the contacts 2l. and 22 thereat. it is evident that the corresponding contacts of station L will remain cle-sed. the current path through relay D being thus interrupted While the current path through relay B will be held closed through the ground connection of station L.' lit is likewise evident that Whenf ever the circuit is broken at station L While the code signaling contacts of sta-tion N are closed. the relay B will be tile-energized but the effectiveness of the energization of relay l) will not be impaired, such effectiveness being maintained because of the current path established through the ground connection of station N. ln view of the foregoing it evident that the code signal of station L will be fully and correctly manifested by*- spending to one of said stations, and the other of the resisters responding to the other of said stations. 1f one of such stations commences the transmission of its code signal during the series of the current impulses incident to the formulation of a round of the signal of the other of said stations-the register acting. in response to the station thus ,starting during the round of the previously actingl station, Will manifest strokes of the signal broken into preceding its manifestation of the strokes of the first round of the signal which subsequently starts, but all following rounds or repetitions of such subsequently starting signal will be completely and correctly manifested by said register,

lf more than two initiating stations act concurrently. the code signals of the concurrently acting stations nearest the respective ends of the circuit will be manifested as already described, the concurrent signal formulations of intervening stations being ineective, because the circuit will be at all times either broken or grounded at both sides of such intervening stations.

Should the ground connection of any initiating station become ineffective, Warning of that fact will be given whenever a code signal is received from such station, through the absence of response of the register F to the first closure of such code signal. Should the central otiice ground connection become ineffective. Warning will be correspondingly given by the failure of the register F to act in response to any signals.

The use of a signaling system comprising elcctroinotive forces differing in phase from one another and provided for the energization ot' various signal circuit current paths is not herein broadly claimed, as same'forms the snbiect-matter of mv co-pending application No. 335,430. filed November 3rd, 1919.

The foregoing description together with the accompanying drawing Will suggest to those skilled in this art many other embodiments of this invention, and l therefore do not wish to be limited by the embodiment so described and shov'n: but what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the llnited States is! l. ln code signal nninifesting mechanism -for a circuit having alternative current pathsineans for responding to signaling impulses distinctively as to respective ones of tivo of such paths, and means operable incidentally to manifestations of impulses distinctive of one of said paths to prevent manifestations in response to impulses in the other of said paths.

2. In code signal manifesting mechanism for a circuit having alternative current paths-a manifester arranged for response to signaling impulses in a predetermined one only of said paths, and means responsive to signaling impulses in another of said paths to be conditioned upon each such impulse to act for a predetermined interval thereafter to prevent responsive action of said manifestor.

23. in code signal manifesting mechanism for a circuit having alternative current paths,-a. ilnanifestor for signaling impulses in one of said paths, and means responsive to signaling impulses in another of said paths to be conditioned upon each such impulse to act for a time thereafter, longer than the longest interval between the impulses of any signal, to prevent responsive action of said manifester.

4t. -n code signal manifesting mechanism for a circuit having alternativ-e current paths,-a manifester for signaling impulses in one of said paths, recording mechanism responsive to signaling impulses in another of said paths and comprising a paper feeding train adapted to be conditioned upon each such impulse to act for a time thereafter longer than the longest interval between the impulses of any signal, and means arranged to prevent responsive actuation of said mani festor during the ruiming of said trainV 5. In code signal manifesting mechanism for a circuit having alternative current paths,-a manifestor for response to signaling impulses in one of said paths, a recorder responsive to signaling impulses in another of said paths and having a paper feeding train adapted to be conditioned upon each signaling impulse to run for a` predetermined interval` contacts so operable by said train as to be abnormally positioned. during the running thereof, and electrical connections controlled by said contacts whereby said rnanifcstor will he rendered unresponsive .vhile said contacts are abnormally positioned.

6. ln code signal manifesting mechanism for a circuit having alternative current paths-fa manifester for response to signaling impulses in one of said paths. a recorder responsive to signaling impulses in another of said paths and having a paper feeding train adapted to he conditioned upon each signaling impulse to run for a time longer than the longest interval betn'een the impulses of any signal. contacts so operable bv said train as to be abnormally positioned duringthe running thereof, and electrical connections controlled b v said contacts whereby said nninifestor Will be rendered unresponsive While said contacts are abnormally positioned.

'l'. In code signal manifesting mechanism for a circuit having alternative current paths-means for responding to signaling impulses distinctively as to respective ones of three such paths, and means operable incidentally to manifestations of impulses distinctive of either or both of two of said paths to prevent manifestations in response to impulses in the third of said paths.

S. In code signal manifesting mechanism for a circuit having alternative current paths,-a manifestor for response to signaling impulses in one of said paths, and means distinctively responsive to signaling impulses in two other of said paths to be conditioned upon each impulse in either or both of such paths to act for a time thereafter longer than the longest interval between the impulses of any signal to prevent response of said manifestor to impulses in said first named path.

9. In code signal manifesting mechanism for a circuit having alternative current paths,-a manifestor for signaling impulses in one of said paths, recorders respectively responsive to signaling impulses in other of said paths and each having a paper feeding train adapted to be conditioned upon each impulse of any signal responded to thereby to run for a time thereafter longer than the longest interval between the impulses of any signal, and means arranged to prevent responsive actuation of said manifestor during either separate or concurrent running of said trains.

10. In code signal manifesting mechanism for a circuit having alternative current paths,a manifestor for signaling impulses in one of said paths, recorders respectively responsive to signaling impulses in other of said paths and each having a paper feeding train adapted to be conditioned upon each circuit impulse to run for a predetermined interval and contacts so operable by said train as to Abe abnormally positioned during the running of said train, and electrical connections controlled by said contacts whereby said manifestor will be rendered unresponsive while any of said contacts are abnormally positioned.

11. In code signal manifesting mechanism for a circuit connecting current supply mechanism arranged to jointly supply said circuit and a ground connection,a manifestor for response to signaling impulses 1n said ground connection, recorders responsive f to signaling impulses in respective sides of said circuit and each having a paper feeding train adapted to be conditioned upon each signaling impulse to run for a time longer than the longest interval between the impulses of any signal, contacts so operable by said trains as to be abnormally positioned during the running of said trains, respec-` ing impulses in either or both sides of said circuit to prevent manifestations in response to impulses in said connection.

13. A circuit connecting current supply mechanism arranged to apply relatively outof-phase electromotive forces to the respective sides of said circuit and to a ground connection, in combination with code signal manifesting mechanism comprising means for distinctively manifesting signaling impulses in respective sides of said circuit a-nd signaling impulses in said connection, and means operable incidentally to manifestations of signaling impulses in either or both sides of said circuit to prevent manifestations in response to impulses in said connection.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name, this 5th day of January, V1920.

CLARENCE E. BEACH. 

